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ROUTE 3 TAl LAM TUNNEL & , . APPROACH - SOUTHERN SECTION

I .J FINAL DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Executive Summary [ August 1995 [ r .. r '; [. ~

l , CONSULTANTS IN l ' ENVIRONMENTAL I S CIENCES (ASIA) LTD .• j Room 1201, Tai Yau Building 181 Johnston Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2893 1551 Facsimile: (852) 2891 0305 : .'-'

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QUALITY ASSURANCE o POLICY STATEMENT

Consultants in Environmental Sciences (Asia) Ltd is committed to satisfying the requirements of its Clients at the highest" standards of professional ethics.

It is the Company's objective to provide services which meet the required specification and are produced on time in a cost-effective manner.

In pursuit of these objectives, the Directors have implemented Quality Systems based on ISO 9001 standard. All employees of the Company have a responsibility for quality.

The quality procedures are under continual review by senior Management to ensure that the changing needs of the Company's Clients are met. u ,,0

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[ ENVIRON MENTAL [; I S CIENCES (ASIA) LTD [ CES (ASIA) LTD DOCUMENT RELEASE FORM [1 TITLE Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel & Yuen Long Approach - Southern Section FDEIA - Executive Summary T1 , [ i--"- CLIENT Route 3 Contractors Consortium

REPORT NO. 721 PROJECT NO. 96530

STATUS Final DATE OF ISSUE 16/8/95

QUALITY CONTROL NAME SIGNATURE DATE

CHECKED BY EChan ~ Ib,J-;r·

TECHNICAL REVIEWER P Kreuse.' fvu,(®&t.l Ib-~·9r

APPROVED BY T J Cramp --- rf.J-~ /& /&/1(" REMARKS : The information supplied and contained within this report is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of printing. Where information . -has been supplied by third parties, such information is reproduced here in good faith.

CES (Asia) Ltd accepts no responsibility for changes made to this report by third parties.,

[J ---_ ,i [ .,'i;:.-~ [J r [i CONTENTS

Page [, BACKGROUND 1

[ 1 INIRODUCTION 1 2 OBJECTIVES 2 3 THE PROjEcr 2 [j 4 THE DEIA STUDY AREA 3 5 KEY ISSUES 3

[ '".;;71 THE MAIN LINE 7 '1 6 NorSE 7 [ -::; 7 Air Quality 7 8 WATER QUALITY 7 9 ECOLOGY 8 10 VISUAL AND LANDSCAPE 9 11 WASTE MANAGEMENT' 9

THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM 10

12 DESIGN FEATURES 10 13 OPERATIONAL DATA 10 14ArR QUALITY 10 15 NorSE 10 16 WATER QUALITY 11 17 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMP Acr 11 18 ECOLOGY 11

ENVffiONMENTALMOMTORINGANDAUDIT 13

19 ORGANISATION 13 20 TRIGGER, ACTION AND TARGET LEVELS 13 21 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND AUDIT 13 22 POLLUTION CONIROL REQUIREMENTS 13 23 IMPAcr PREDICTION REVIEW 13 24 REPORTING 13 25 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINTS RESPONSE . 13 26 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT OF mE CON1RAcroR 13

.. LIST OF FIGURES . , [ ,-_-:.J Figure 1 Design Refinements 5 Figure 2 TLT & YLA tSouth) Study Area 6 .•. '.•.. '1. [ . . [, [U [J r [:

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[ ~'.. __ J L_' [- :i Executive Summary - Southern Section DEIA 0J ' Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach

BACKGROUND 1) reinstate portions of fishponds remaining within the construction boundaries to their original 1 INTRODUCTION condition including water quality and suitable enhancements to improve their ecological value; Route 3 Tal Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach (R3 TLT & YLA) is an integral part of a transport 2) prepare a Detailed Environmental Impact network to selVe the new airport at Chek Lap Kok Assessment (DEIA) report to verify the findings of and the proposed container terminals 10 and 11 on the PDS2EA and detail the environmental impacts Lantau Island An Environmental Assessment study of the Construction Proposal; for the R3 TLT & YLA (including the conveyor system under a separate cover, the EACS) Preliminary Design 3) complete the four-season ecological sUlVey as Stage 2 was completed in March 1994, hereafter required by the ACE; referred to as the PDS2EA The study was conditionally recommended for endorsement by the 4) address key environmental issues described in Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) EIA Gause 10.2 of the Construction Requirements; Subcommittee on 5 July 1994 and was subsequently endorsed by the full ACE , subject to conditions given 5) carry out off-site compensatory planting of native in the table below. woodlands affected by the works;

The Hong Kong Government has awarded this project 6) develop and implement a comprehenSive to a franchisee, Route 3 (CPS) Company Limited, that Environmental Monitoring and Audit programme has delegated responsibilities for design and to quantify the impact predictions in the DEIA '--5 construction to. Route 3 Contractors Consortium and, if required, act to remedy any nOn­ (R3CC). Appendix 5 Part 1 of the Project Agreement conformances with relevant environmental n gives Construction ReqUirements containing standards, specificatioIlS on environmental matters. These [ include commitments for R3CC to:

I i l __ i~·''; Temporary access to avoid wetland R3CC will take note of this recommendation in proposing habitats and SSSI at Ho Pui, Provision temporary access. of wildlife corridors Additional ecological sUlVey before Supplementary SUlVeys were carried out from late August 1994 commencement of work. through January 1995 by . R3CC will undertake the continuation of this sUlVey and complete it in June 1995 with reporting at the end. Off-site compensatory planting at a R3CC will undertake the compensatory planting. ratio of no less than 3:1 " ; The final EIA to be submitted to ACE R3CC will submit the Detailed EIA to ACE for consultation, i.' .~ for consultation. U:'---" Off-site restoration of wetland, Highways believe that off-site restoration of wetland is not viable in this project. R3CC wi)! however reinstate areas of ponds within the work site which are not required as part of construction, operation and maintenance of the permanent works.

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Executive Summary - Southern Section DEIA Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach [

Two Information Papers, one on the environmental • to address any outstanding issues from the impacts of the preliminary works during the first 6 PDS2EA related to the refinement of impact o months of the project and the other on the mitigation measures; and environmental impacts of the Conveyor System, have • to assess the environmental impacts of any been presented to ACE by R3CC. Both have been changes between the current Construction endorsed by ACE with the following conditions on Proposals and the project design used as a basis the Conveyor System Information Paper: for the PDS2EA.

1) all mitigation measures listed on page 14 of the 3 THE PROJECT Information Paper be adopted with the exception of enclosing the discharge points and the 3.1 The Main Line stockpile; The R3 TLT & YLA comprises the northern section of 2) additional quietened equipment be deployed Route 3 from in the south to Au Tau during construction and/or noise barriers be used (near Yuen Long) in the north. The south where necessary to ensure daytime criterion of 75 interchange will connect to the northern end of the dB(A) is met; Bridge and Tuen Mun Road. The north interchange will connect to the 3) extremely loud equipment shouid not be .used in Circular Road and the Yuen Long Southern Bypass. the evening or night hours; The road will be a 12 km long fully graded divided 4) noise reduction measures for tugboats or strict dual 3-lane highway providing a direct link from the controls on their use be applied; North West New Territories and the border crossing at Lok Ma Chau through to Tsueri Wan, Kwai Chung, 5) litter and debris arising rrom' the ~proJiicr'be, Lantau, the West Corridor and Hong Kong [] cleared frequently and the jetty reinstated as soon '. Island. It will include a 6.3 km stretch of the elevated as possible; and· Yuen Long Approach Road and a 3.8 km Tai Lam Tunnel. The Tai Lam Tunnel will consist of two •.... '["".1 I 6) a summary of the habiiit- 'i';ss mitigation separate 3-lane road tunnels and ventilation tunnels proposals for the project be included in the from the portals to the quarter points of the road Southern Section DEIA to be submitted to ACE. tunnels. Ventilation plant buildings will be located at both portal areas. [1 2 OBJECTIVES Situated 1.5 km north of the Tai Lam Tunnel northern This Executive Summary highlights the findings and portal, there will be a 22-lane Toll Plaza and an recommendations of the DEIA for the Southern Administration Building to accommodate the Central n Section of R3 TL T & YLA and describes the Monitoring and (Traffic) Control System. At the Toll Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Plaza, sliproads will connect the main roadway to programme. The DEIA consists of 3 volumes and the Kam Sheung Road to the east. :11 readers should refer to them for technical details: 3.2 The Conveyor System • Volume 1: The Main Line • Volume 2: The Conveyor System The preliminary design identified the need to remove n • Volume 3: Environmental Monitorlng and Audit approximately 6 Mm' of excavated spoil material Manual when constructing the Tai Lam Tunnel and the TIn Kau Interchange. A conveyor system was deemed to As specified in the Construction ReqUirements, the be the most practical and environmentally acceptable objectives of the DEIA are: method for transporting the material to a barge loading area. The amended design proposed by R3CC o • to verify the findings of the PDS2EA; has reduced the estimated quantity to 4.5 Mm'. • to assess in detail the environmental impacts of the Construction Proposals; The conveyor system will be installed along the hillsides and coastal area. Spoil will be transported ·lJ via this system from the Tai Lam Tunnel portal area ....o , CBS (Asia) Ltd 2 95530\reporlsldoia-s'es-sdeia.d07 '[J [ I ' I !

Executive Summary - Southern Section DEIA Oi Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach

' : [) :: to a barge loading jetty located at Gemini Beaches. 4 THE DEIA STUDY AREA Barges will be used to transport this material for disposal. The entire length of the conveyor system is To address environmental matters associated with the [J1 approximately 960 m. R3 TLT & YLA, the project is divided into a Southern Section and a Northern Section. The former comprises 3.3 Design the TIng Kau Area, the Conveyor System, the South Portal, the Tai Lam Tunnel, the North Portal and the O,j An implicit component of the DEIA is to establish the Yuen Long Approach up to and including the Kam Franchisee's design changes compared with the Sheung Access Road. The latter comprises the preliminary design. These are summarised as follows: remaining portion north of Kam Sheung Access Road.

O~ Environmental assumptions: No change to these has This DEJA is for the Southern Section and the study been made. area is shown in Figure 2. The Northern Section will be covered by the Northern Section DEIA under Engineering assumptions: Figure 1 shows the separate cover. refinements made to the design of the road. These can briefly be summarised as follows: 5 KEy ISSUES

• The road alignment at the Tai Lam TUnnel South The following key issues were depicted in the Portal has been elevated by 18 m. This will Construction Requirements. reduce the amount of material to be excavated lJ1 from the southern cutting and tree loss. More fill Issues related to monitoring and/or mitigating material will be required to construct the environmental impacts (Gause 10.2): 1 embankment crossing the stream channel in the • associated fixed noise sources of constructed 0 Southern Valley. facilities; • traffic noise; • Ramp C to the Tmg Kau Interchange will be • effect on air quality, particularly along the Yuen constructed with reinforced earth instead of the Long Approach, at the portals and ventilation initial bridge design which will require more fill exhaust points of Tai Lam Tunnel and inside the for embankment construction. tunnel; • visual impact, and landscaping and environmental • There is a marginal difference in the tunnel reprovisioning; alignment. • ecological and heritage impact; . • water quality impact; • The Ventilation Buildings at both the North and • disposal of soil, construction waste and unsuitable South Portals have been relocated and combined material; with the respective Portal Buildings. This • traffic impact to existing roads during relocation will result in less cut and less land take. construction; • construction noise, dust and vibration .. • The Toll Plaza layout has been modified to move the toll booths slightly south. This will require Issues related to ecology: ';. less fill than the preliminary design. • determine the area, species and precise location of woodlands affected by the execution of works Traffic assumptions: The traffic load has been (Gause 10.3.2) modified. There is a 3.3% reduction in total tunnel • complete the foUr seasons ecological survey flow and a 23 % reduction in heavy, vehicles. already partially completed by Government and prepare a report identifying the need and Identification of sensitive receivers: A detailed survey measures to be taken to mitigate the impacts of to identify all potential air and noise sensitive the constructed facilities on the ecology (Gause receivers for this assessment has been carried out as 10.1.6); part of this DEJA to fulfill ACE EJA Subcommittee • for fish ponds affected by the temporary works requirements and PDS2EA recommendations. but not required in the long term, determine suitable enhancements to improve their ecological value (Gause 9.3.3).

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Executive SUDUnazy - Southern Section DEIA Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach [

Issues related to environmental monitoring and audit: [ • detailed requirements for EM&A (Gauses 10.4 - 10.10) The above issues are covered by this DEIA except r traffic impact, air qUality in the tunnel and the four seasons ecological survey. Traffic impact is not an environmental issue and is being covered by the traffic r consultant. Air quality in the tunnel is being covered by the ventilation engineers. The four seasons ecological survey will be presented in a separate report. r ,[, i

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i, : ; , [ J WaH PORTAL BUILDING, VENTILA TlON ROAD LEVEL RAISED BY 18m NEW BUILDING MARGINAL DIFFERENCE IN A T PORTAL, SIGNIFICANT LESS CUT, o TOLL PLAZA LA YOUT NO DIFFERENCES COMBINED WITH TUNNEL SEPARA TlON SL/GHTL Y MORE FILL OVER STREAM LESS FILL PORTAL BUILDING COURSE. D LESS LANDTAKE RAMP C BY REINFORCED EARTH, LESS CUT INSTEAD OF ON STRUCTURE 01 MORE PLEASANT AESTHETICALL Y [11 ~-TO KAM ROAD I d': TO ! 'n , OJ I ._. RAMP C

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TAl LAM TUNNEL {ji LEGEND:-

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[11 [J\ Executive Summary - Southern Section DEIA C' Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach

0> THE MAIN LINE • Undertake steps to minimise dust during blasting such as wetting the blast face and blasting with 6 NOISE an 'open face' to reduce dust dispersion vertically. o Construction noise was predicted to comply with the • C;ontrol dust emissions from concrete batching daytime criterion of 75 dB(A) at sensitive receivers and crushing activities by installing fabric filters along the alignment and Kam Sheung Access Road and operating water sprays at all crushers. 0'\" with the implementation of the following mitigation measures: With these commitments taken into account in dispersion modelling, dust levels (in terms of total • Acoustic screening is provided for stationary plant suspended particulates (TSP) were predicted to items. comply with the 1-hr average TSP guideline as well as the Air Quality Objectives (AQO) for 24-hr and • For mobile plant items where acoustic screening annual average TSP at all sensitive receivers. The is not feasible, the working time within each 30- dust levels will be monitored through the EM&A minute period is reduced. programme during construction and additional mitigation will be taken if needed. • At certain locations close to noise sensitive receivers, each PME item is separated spatially During operation, nitrogen dioxide (NO,) levels from along the alignment. traffic emissions arid ventilation exhaust were predicted to meet AQO requirements at the sensitive • Where indicated in the Main Report, quieter 24 receivers. Future sensitive uses should be located at tonne dump trucks will be utilised. least 350 rn and 300 m from the ventilation shafts of the northern and southern ventilation buildings Construction during restricted hours requires a respectively. Air quality with respect to tunnel Construction Noise Permit (CNP). The contractor will ventilation will be addressed by the ventilation , ' comply with CNP conditions. engineer in a separate report. The ventilation system [ I ' will be designed to meet the tunnel air quality Traffic noise during the operational phase was guideline. predicted to meet the HKPSG guideline of 70 dB(A), with the implementation of a friction course road 8 WATER QUALITY surface and the use of 0.8 m high concrete profile barriers, at all the sensitive receivers along the route Water quality impacts discussed in the PDS2EA with the exception of two. Traffic noise at these two remain valid, but changes have been made in this receivers are predominantly from Tuen Mun Road. detailed design resulting in less cut and fill activities. Route 3's contributions were predicted to be 0.1 dB(A) This will lessen water quality impact on nearby (out of 75.3 dB (A» at one receiver and 2.2 dB(A) (out streams during the construction phase. Construction of 80.4 dB(A) at the other (R70 overlooking Ramp q. activities are mainly below the WSD catchwaters and For R70 all possible direct mitigation measures, should not affect water quality in the catchwater. including barriers ans enclosures, were examined and Production water generated during tunnelling will be were found to be ineffective in mitigating the overall recycled and used for dust suppression where possible noise level at this receiver. Acoustic insulation at the receiver to mitigate against traffic noise from all Site run-off and the draining of fish pond water are sources is more appropriate and is recommended, two key issues during construction. The former will which is in keeping with that of the PDS2EA. be controlled by installing sedimentation tanks at , , appropriate locations. These tanks will be cleaned 7 AIR QUALITY regularly to ensure effective performance. When construction works are completed at exposed slopes R3CC has committed to the following dust mitigation with soft material, R3CC will hydroseed as soon as measures during construction: possible. R3CC has obtained the consent to discharge the pond water from EPD. Bottom slurry will be • Exercise good site practices such as speed control pumped to sedimentation basins for settling and will not be discharged into streams. .. , and wheel wash facUities that are normally .,, i included in construction contract clauses. ,. i I~ >.:...s

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Executive SllIIUIlaIY - Southern Section DEIA Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tm Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach D

During operation, water quality impacts may arise No other unexpected finding has emerged from the [:, from road and tunnel run -off as well as sewage from surveys and assessments conducted to date. The the employees working in Administrative Building. conclusion and recommendations of the PDS2EA The drainage design of Route 3 has incorporated silt remain valid. [: traps, oil interceptors and "close~off" valves as suggested by the PDS2EA at strategic points along the R3CC is committed to the following impact avoidance alignment to mitigate against storm run-off and and habitat loss mitigation measures: accidental spills. Septic tanks with soakaways will be r installed as an interim measure for treating the • Carry out 3:1 compensation planting of native sewage from the Administration Building, until year woodlands permanently lost by the works 2005 when sewerage will be provided for this area. through off-site planting. r 9 ECOLOGY • Revegetate temporary construction areas within the works boundary. The following table compares habitat loss in the [ Southern Section between the preliminary design and • Where practicable transplant seedlings of the the present design assuming that all vegetation within protected species Enkianthus quinquejlurus (New the construction boundary would be removed. The Year Flower) and Arundina chinensis (Bamboo apparent increase in habitat loss with the present orchid). design may not reflect real differences as much as greater detail and refinement of construction • Minimise incursion into areas within the works boundaries, which were not specified during the limit that are not directly required for either preliminary design stage. temporary or permanent works. Works near the two ardeid (egret and heron) nesting • Establish conservation management regimes in a c sites at the Ho Pui Egretry may have negative impact pond partially lost to the highways projecta. on the egretry, especially during the breeding season. To mitigate, a pond partially lost to the project has • Restore additional ponds lost during temporary "'C". , been identified for conservation management. works to commercial fish prodUction, thereby Implementation of conservation measures couid restoring the pre-disturbance function. improve the conservation potential of this site, thereby increasing the carrying capacity of the pond. • Monitor the egretry and restoration of the areas [ within the works limits and adjacent to the Potential locations for off-site compensation planting egretry following construction, to encourage have been identified. These include the hill north of wildlife utilisation. L Sham Tseng along the west side of the conveyor and the hill slope west of Ma On Kong between the Route • Where practical, excavate by hand, any burrow ":C'.' . 3 alignment and the boundary of the Tai Lam systems encountered during construction and .~. ; Country Park. .release captured animals unharmed in undisturbed areas.

[J Woodland 6.3 ha 7.4 ha 9.1 ha Shrubland 20.9 ha Not Estimated 28.3 ha C Grassland 0.8 ha Not Estimated 4.1 ha AgriculturelDisturbance 4.6 ha Not Estimated 7.4 ha Fish Ponds 3.7 ha Not Estimated 3.9 ha L Marsh Not Estimated 3.9 ha t

CES (Asia) Ltd 8 96530\rq>ortsldeia-s\es-sdeia.d07 r 0' Executive Summary - Southern Section DEIA Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach

~' . , [ : 1 10 VISUAL AND LANDSCAPE

'·· . Visual and landscape impacts and mitigation .. r recommendations described in the PDS2EA remain valid since design revisions during construction and operation are minimal.

11 WASTE MANAGEMENT

At the South Portal, approximately 500,000 m' of spoil will be generated from tunnelling and 4 Mm' from the main cut. Approximately 5% of the crushed rock will (, . be used as aggregate. The remaining 4.5 Mm' will be \ :.".' transported via the Conveyor System to the jetty for disposal via barges. Re-use of such spoil is currently under investigation.

At the North Portal, tunnelling and construction of the North Portal and the Toll Plaza will generate approximately 682,000 m' of soft spoil, 635,500 m' of rock and 22,000 m' of pond mud. All the materials will be re-used on site.

Construction wastes other than spoil, general refuse and chemical wastes such as waste oil, grease, lubricants, cleaning solvents/absorbents, etc during construction and operation are not expected to be [ large in quantity. Their disposal should comply with the existing environmental legislation.

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[: THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM maximum 30,000 m3 will be created in the jetty area. The material will then be moved from the stockpile to 12 DESIGN FEATURES barges by two underground conveyors. Barge loading will operate 16 hr per day with an approximate The current design differsirom the preliminary design loading rate of 5,000 tonnes per hour. contained in the PDS2 as follows: 14 AIR QUAUTY • The alignment is amended north of the Tuen MunRoad R3CC has committed to the following dust suppression measures to minimise dust nuisance: -.·.'.· ~ ... ,}1 • The conveyor is continuous thus eliminating the r [.,} need for transfer points on the route • The new alignment will require cutting and • Cover the main conveyor with a steel roof and covering for sections passing through ridges or canvas sides. hills • Install a spray curtain of water/surfactant at the • The conveyor will be erected on steel trusses drop point from the conveyor to the stockpile. where it traverses valleys, rather than on earthen • Minimise the drop heights from the conveyor to fills the stockpile and from the stockpile to the barges. • There will be no surge bins/stockpiles along the • Use water spray curtains at the drop point from conveyor route the loading conveyors to the barges. • The amount of spoil to be moved is 4.5 Mm3, • Exercise good site practice such as water site : .. 25% less than the PDS2 design roads and open areas regularly and install a I • The jetty will be on fill rather than piles, thus site vehicle wash facility. formation will be required • The spoil will be rehandled at the jetty, stockpile Dust levels at sensitive receivers (including Pink! r size will be 30,000 m3 Golden Villas) during the construction and operation • The conveyor system service road will not follow of the conveyor system were predicted to comply with r the conveyor system alignment, because the the 1-hr average TSP guldeline and the 24~hr average l gradients are too steep AQO limit with the implementation of the above measures. These changes have the following advantages: The following additional mitigation measures would • Less maintenance for one continuous conveyor be implemented if air quallty mOnitoring determines ,.".--::, than for discontinuous conveyors that they are necessary: • No stockpiling along the alignment due to elimination of transfer pOints, stockpiling at the • Wet exposed stockpile areas with water spray. head of the conveyor only • Install side enclosure and cover aggregate or • Dust, noise and water quality impacts along the dusty material storage piles alignment reduced due to elimination of transfer • Restrict the conveyor system access road to points service traffic only and locate site exit points away • No fill material needed as a result of the use of from sensitive receivers. I ' steel trusses , • The steel trusses are easier to erect and 15 NOISE disassemble than the earthen fill, thus easier to reinstate lost habitats Both the construction and operation of the conveyor • Stream flows in the valleys can be maintained system must comply with guideline and statutory more readily as a result of the trUsses limits for construction because it is deemed as part of the construction activities of Route 3. Construction of 13 OPERATIONAL DATA the conveyor system will entail the formation of a maintenance/access track, construction of foundations, The main conveyor will be operated continuously at a erection of structural supports, installation of conveyor speed of 3.5 m/s for 16 hours a day at a maximum components, site formation at the barge point, and rate of 3,000 tonnes per hour for 2 years. To decommissioning of the conveyor and the barge point. accommodate a continuous conveyor system and a During operation, noise may arise from the conveyor discontinuous barge loading operation, a stockpile of line as well as from barges and tug boats.

'1 CES (Asia) Ltd 10 I .~ 95530\reports'deia-sles-sdeia.d07 I. Executive Summary - Southern Section DEIA Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Larn Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach

Noise levels at the sensitive receivers were predicted provided on site. The drainage scheme is to comply with construction noise criteria with the designed to contain run-off from 1 in 10 year implementation of the following mitigation measures: storm events.

• Use only 20-tonne to 24-tonne dump trucks • Install a 1 m filter layer comprising of river sand,. during site clearance for the formation of the granular material or similar material will be, maintenance/access track and the foundation for installed on one side of the sea wall prior to the conveyor system, and during platform filling placement of other fill materials to provide a and backfill removal (decommissioning) at the barrier for any potential spills entering the water. barge point. • Avoid concurrent use of power mechanical • Hydroseed and revegetate exposed slopes as soon' equipment. as practical once major earthworks have been • Install a temporary bund adjacent to the works completed. near the isolated noise sensitive receiver. • Restrict the use of rock drills during evening • Control stream sedimentation during construction' "C hours. using erosion control mats as required on exposed • Restrict the number of dumptrucks at the barge cut and fill slopes. loading area to 2 during evening hours. tl[ ~ Control operational times of powered mechanical • Construct earthen berms to intercept and divert equipment to meet statutory and non-statutory overland flows from construction disturbance requirements. areas and prevent their contamination of stream • Acoustic bafflIng, where required, of tug boat courses. 1 engines and exhausts. • Divert existing stream (and thus E. coli in stream 16 WATER QUALITY water) flowing into West Gemini Beach to west of c the jetty area and away from the Gemini Beaches. A seawall and embankment slopes for the jetty will be " constructed over a six week period. Site formation 17 lANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT '[" will take place behind the seawall with 50,000 m' of fill over -a two month period. During construction, Potential landscape and visual impacts include the majority of the fill materials will be confined and temporary bridging structures over the existing roads, cannot escape Into the surrounding marine barge loading jetty off the Gemini Beaches c environment and therefore only a localised, slight promontory, and stockpile located on the loading increase in suspended solids is expected. There will jetty. The majority of the activity will be localised, be no dredging since the seabed is mainly rock. contained within the conveyor belt corridor and of the ,f barge loading jetty. Site formation will take place behind the seawall with 50,000 m' of fill over a two month period. There will General mitigation measures recommended in the ::,:·'·L' : be no dredging since the seabed is mainly rock. EACS for both the construction and operation phases remain valid for the new alignment. .,. Impacts during the operation of the conveyor syste~ include drainage from the stockpile area and the effect 18 ECOLOGY f of the jetty (a reclaimed headiand into the sea) on the flushing capacity of the Gemini Beaches to the east. The construction of the conveyor system would lead to an estimated total loss of 1.0 ha of plantations and r: Mitigation measures for marine and fresh water 0.5 ha of ravine secondary forest; 8.4 ha of shrub­ quality are as follows: woodland; 1.6 ha of shrub-grassland; and 0.3 ha of eroded area. The most severe impact would be loss • Build the jetty using the best practical filling of 05 ha of the floristically diverse ravine woodland [ technology, the seawall will be constructed first dominated by Lithocarpus glaber and its associated and filling will occur behind the seawall. riparian habitat. t • Install a drainage channel around the spoil Two protected plant species were identified in the handiing platform and sediment traps will be study area, Enkianthus quinqueflorus (New Year -t

CES (Asia) Ltd 11 96530\reporisVleia-s""-sdeia.d07 t J l"'

Executive Summary - Southern Section DEIA [f Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Lam T1ll1llel and Yuen Long Approach

Flower) and Rhododendron simsii (Red Azalea). Potential impacts on these spedes will include loss of individual plants and destruction of their habitats.

The selected conveyor alignment .is appropriately located along the ridgeline where possible. Earthen fills have been eliminated where possible in favour of steel structural supports. These design features will largely avoid impacts to birds due to loss of important ravine habitats. The primary impact on birds will result from losses of ravine vegetation in the East Stream ravine near Tuen Mun Road.

Mitigation measures to be implemented are listed below together with a timetable for implementation.

Freshwater Habitat Protection • hydroseeding & revegetation • upon completion of earthworks • installation of erosion control measures • as needed [ • construction of earthen berms Vegetation Impact Mitigation • cut-fill slope revegetation • upon completion of earth works [1 • off-site planting • at outset of construction works • site demarcation for protected species • during site investigation works • of E. and R. simsii • initial site prior to earthwork U Avifauna Impact Mitigation • demarcation of protection areas • following initial site survey, prior to earthwork '·1 Mammal Impact Mitigation l---~ • burrow survey • during site investigation surveys • burrow excavation • to start of earthworks U~l [ ,;

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Executive Summary - Southern Section DEIA 0'1 Route 3 Contractors Consortium Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach

I' , ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND 23 IMPACT PREDICTION REVIEW AUDIT The Environmental Manager of the ET will review the 19 ORGANISATION works programme each month to predict potential ~: impacts and impacted areas and duration due to An Environmental Team (E1) has been organised for works activities in the following month. If necessary, the EM&A programme for the follOwing month will ' , carrying out environmental monitoring and audit [ .."', ' be modified to take account of such predictions. . , during the construction phase, The construction programme will last 38 months. 24 REPORTING 20 TRIGGER, ACTION AND TARGET LEVELS A Monitoring and Audit Report will be prepared and It is an accepted practice to apply a preset range of submitted each month. The report will include trigger, actian and target (IA1) levels to the parameters descriptions on monitoring methodology, monitoring monitored as a framework for interpreting and and audit results, site inspection report, complaints auditing monitoring results. Action plans are received, impact prediction review, and the developed for each level of exceedance which 'programme for works activities and monitoring describes actions to be taken by the ET, the schedule for the upcoming month. Contractor and other .related parties to mitigate against pollution. 25 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINTS RESPONSE

21 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND AUDIT Procedures to log, investigate, validate and respond to complaints received through EPD hotline or other A comprehensive programme for mOnitoring of air direct enquiries have been established. A complaint quality, noise; and freshwater and marine water response action plan will be set in motion when quality before (baseline), during (compliance) and complaints are received. after (operational) the construction of R3 will be carried out. 26 I'NVIRONMENTAL COMMlIMENT OF TIlE CONIRAcroR

Ecological monitoring during construction includes the R3CC have made a commitment to implement the ' :, mitigation measures indicated in the DEIA and to " transplantation of native and protected spedes, [,, ,~ marking of spedal areas and areas of vegetation to be ensure that the mitigation measures which relate to avoided by personnel and equipment, ardeid use at the construction practices, indicated in the the 2 sites in the Ho Pui Egretry, and design and Environmental Monitoring and Audit report, are conservation management of fish ponds. During the adhered to, 'This commitment should ensure that any operational phase, ecological monitoring will be operational and construction impacts will comply with performed to assess the success of revegetation the establlshed criteria and contract conditions, measures, restoration of wildlife in revegetated areas, ardeid use of the above egretry, and ardeid use of fish " ponds managed for conservation.

L,,; 22 POLLUTION CONTROL REQUIREMENTS

During on-site environmental monitoring, the ETwill observe and record the effectivene~s of mitigation measures, working practices, and site and equipment :" "; , .~ maintenance conditions. Site inspection checklists for [-' air quality, noise, water and waste management will be used to facilitate the observation and recording of site conditions.

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